ARTICLES ABOUT SABINA BY DATE - PAGE 2

Radio personality Tavis Smiley believes it was divine providence that many months ago he scheduled a book signing at St. Sabina Catholic Church. The event was scheduled long before the Rev. Michael Pfleger was suspended for remarks he made on Smiley's national radio show about his boss Cardinal Francis George and the Catholic Church. Smiley will appear at St. Sabina at noon on Saturday for an hour-long interview with WVON radio host Cliff Kelley and a conversation with the congregation.

Radio personality Tavis Smiley believes it was divine providence that many months ago he scheduled a book signing for this weekend at St. Sabina Catholic Church. The event was planned long before the Rev. Michael Pfleger was suspended for remarks he made on Smiley's national radio show about his boss Cardinal Francis George and the Catholic Church. Smiley will appear at St. Sabina at noon Saturday for an hourlong interview with WVON radio host Cliff Kelley and a conversation with the congregation.

What a shame that Father Michael Pfleger is convinced he is the only priest in the Chicago diocese who can bring the love and ministry of Jesus Christ to the people of St. Sabina. Apparently the parishioners of St. Sabina have also been convinced of this. To receive the love of Jesus through many other people is a most valuable, enriching experience. To give the love of Jesus to all, is one of the greatest joys of Catholicism. Many, many other priests, as shepherds, can and do impart this love and understanding to their flock.

St. Sabina parish officials said the move of a temporary assistant pastor into the church's rectory on Friday was disrespectful to both the community and the Rev. Michael Pfleger, who was temporarily suspended from pastoral duties by Cardinal Francis George earlier in the week. George named the Rev. Thulani Magwaza, St. Sabina's associate pastor, as the parish administrator during Pfleger's suspension. The Rev. Andrew Smith, a priest at St. Ailbe Parish who was named as Magwaza's assistant, moved into St. Sabina's rectory Friday morning, raising the ire of parish staff.

The moment one walks through the door of St. Sabina, it is obvious that it is not a typical Roman Catholic church. A life-size mural of an African-American man dressed in a white dashiki robe, with a glowing halo around his afro, hangs over the altar. Above it is a neon sign that says "Jesus. " A choir sings gospel, accompanied by a band of horns, bongos and percussion instruments. And a fiery Rev. Michael Pfleger delivers the homily. "This is why people go to St. Sabina," said the Rev. Janette Wilson, an assistant pastor at Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.

The Rev. Michael Pfleger on Friday declined to discuss reports he has been asked to leave St. Sabina Church to become president of Leo High School, saying his conversations with the Archdiocese of Chicago are confidential. "All I can say is that I've written a response on what the cardinal's (Francis George) requests were and I'm turning that over to him," Pfleger said following a Daley Center rally against gun violence. "In fairness to the archdiocese, I need to wait on their response.

The question seemed simple enough. What do you want people to remember about your son, the moderator asked gently in front of a hushed crowd at St. Sabina Church on the city's South Side. Anjanette Albert, 36, stared at the moderator. As the silence lingered, her eyes became bright with tears. A group of women hurried behind her and put their reassuring hands on her shoulders and back. "He was a great kid," Albert finally said, her voice barely above a whisper in the microphone.

St. Sabina pastor Michael Pfleger on Monday posted a $5,000 reward for information about the gunman who wounded two Von Steuben High School basketball players last month. Christina Waters and Kris Owens were shot in the 8700 block of South Wood Street on July 25 as they left a picnic.

Sabina L. Mark, 85, of Wheeling; beloved wife of the late Bruno Niedziela; loving mother of Sharon Niedziela; dear sister of the late Phyllis (late George) Holt; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews. Sabina was a registered nurse until her retirement in 1996, and a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps, having served during WW II. Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. John Brebeuf Parish, 8307 N. Harlem Avenue, Niles. Interment St. Adalbert Cemetery. Arrangements byGlueckert Funeral Home, Ltd. Information www.GlueckertFH.